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Paris Jewellers, the Canadian BIPOC-owned and women-led jeweller with 23 locations across the country, has been commissioned to create countless A-lister engagement rings over the years. But this latest project is a little different, though no less special. The jeweller was tapped to create the championship ring for the PWHL’s winning team, the Minnesota Frost, to commemorate their brilliant 2025 season. The team, which finished fourth in the regular-season standings, clinched the championship with a 2–1 overtime win against the Ottawa Charge in Game 4, with Minnesota native Liz Schepers scoring the title-winning goal in front of a home crowd of over 10,000. Oh, and it was the team’s second championship win in a row. Here, Paris Jewellers co-owner Chau Lui reveals the process and meaning behind this storybook collaboration.
Was it a competitive bid process to get to be the jeweller to create the Championship ring?
“The partnership came together organically. Our teams got on a call [with the PWHL] and talked about ways that we could intentionally partner and support, and they came back with the idea of us designing the Championship ring. It was an absolute “pinch me” moment and a dream come true for our company and family because as immigrants to Canada helming a family-owned, female-led Canadian company, we were always taught to dream big. And this is no exception. Our workforce is over 90 per cent women, so this partnership, naturally, resonated with our team—many of whom see themselves, their daughters, and their dreams reflected in the athletes of the Professional Women’s Hockey League.”
Why was this partnership personally meaningful to you?
Photo Courtesy of Paris Jewellers
“I’m a mother to two daughters who play and love hockey, so this has been an incredibly inspiring experience. Truthfully, this project is the one that my girls Layla and Isla are most proud of, and that means more to me than anything.”
When it comes to the design process, where did you draw inspiration from?
“The first step in our creative process is what we call a discovery call. During this first call, my goal is to understand the journey of the season: the meaningful moments, the milestones that mattered, and what the season meant to the team. More than anything, I wanted to hear the story of the journey to becoming back-to-back champions. From there, we talk more about what is most important to the team in a championship ring. Following that initial call, we developed the initial design concepts. The team even shared their pre-game playlist with me, which I often listened to while working through the designs. It became a part of my process! We then moved through several feedback calls, refining the design together until we arrived at the final ring.”
Minnesota Frost players Taylor Heise and Grace Zumwinkle; Photo courtesy of Paris Jewellers
Were there specific elements you wanted to incorporate that spoke to the Frost’s identity and milestone season?
“At the centre of the ring is the Frost F set with 26 purple amethysts for each team member. Purple amethyst is said to be the gemstone of resilience, strength and evolution. Frost scored 110 goals this season; we honoured this by setting 110 diamonds around the ring. The words ‘Back to Back’ and the years 2024 and 2025, set beside two Walter Cup trophies, honour the significance of winning two years in a row. It was very significant that the team won their championship game at home. So, the state of Minnesota is on the side of the ring.”
What message do you hope young women—whether in business, sport, or design—take from this achievement?
“To always dream big. To believe in yourself, even when it’s hard – especially when it’s hard. Sometimes I ask myself, “What would I tell my 20-year-old self?” There would be many things! And I definitely could not have even dreamed that we would be designing the championship rings for the PWHL.” Continue Reading
